Czech Republic vs Belarus

Městský stadion – Vítkovice Aréna is the venue as the Czech Republic look to get their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign back on track against Belarus.

An impressive Euro 2020 run that saw them reach the quarter-finals at long odds should serve as a confidence booster as the Czech Republic target their first World Cup finals appearance since 2006. A topsy-turvy start to this World Cup qualifying cycle (W1, D1, L1) gives the means the hosts have no margin for error here if they are to compete with Wales for a second-place finish in Group E. After going down 1-0 to direct second-place challengers Wales in their most recent World Cup qualifier, Jaroslav Silhavy’s men face the prospect of losing back-to-back competitive fixtures for the first time since September 2019. However, the Czechs will be confident of avoiding that scenario as they meet a Belarus side they have outscored by a two-goal margin in all four qualifying fixtures.

Meanwhile, Belarus came from behind to beat Baltic minnows Estonia 4-2 in their opening 2022 World Cup qualifying match, only to succumb to an embarrassing 8-0 loss to Belgium in their subsequent such outing. Michy Batshuayi’s 14th-minute opener in that encounter means the ‘White Wings’ have conceded the opening goal within 20 minutes of play in their last four away matches (D1, L3), a sequence that saw them let in an average of 4.5 goals per game. On the bright side, though, the visitors are only two points and two goals short of equalling their ten-match 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign haul! Even though they are unlikely to qualify for their first-ever World Cup finals, Belarus can at least try to spoil the Czech’s plans after scoring 2+ goals in three of their last four international trips.